CHUSKA CHALLENGE MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL

Buffalo Pass – September 22-24, 2017

Yaateeh riders! Welcome to the 23rd annual Chuska Challenge!

REGISTRATION – Online registration for both the tour and race is now open through 10:00 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, September 21 at the NavajoYES website: www.navajoyes.org On- site registration will be held at the race site at the Chuska camp on Friday evening and Saturday morning between 7:00-9:00 a.m. on race morning. Registration includes Saturday morningʼs breakfast, performance t-shirt, race poster, course support, post-race meal, camping and race awards.

FOOD & SUPPORT – Your registration includes a light pre-race breakfast between 7:00-9:00 a.m. on Saturday, on-course support (including fresh fruit, sweet and salty snacks, gels and more), a post-race meal, entertainment, camping and Sunday morningʼs breakfast.

ROUTES – • The tour route is all trail and dirt road. The ride heads north and west of Buffalo Pass out toward the dry Big Lake and the dramatic overlook of Cove, Mexican Cry Mesa and Monument Valley. The route also takes riders through beautiful forest to a second stunning viewpoint referred to locally as “top of the world”. • The Saturday race course is a six-mile circuit from camp, up to behind “the Bear” formation and Roof Butte, with over 1500 feet of climbing on each lap. Riders then drop east off Roof Butte to road 7500 before hitting up with N13 and climbing back up to camp where riders will complete a challenging loop course. After finishing up at camp, riders head back out for another loop of mountain riding; the race is three full laps. • Kids Race is a fun circuit around the Chuska camp. • Sundayʼs Endurance Series event will begin and end at camp, featuring a 70- mile ride to the Cove area. As with all AES events, there is no registration, swag, support or awards for this ride; itʼs simply a long epic ride with friends in some stunning country! We will give you a GPS track of the route and you are on your way! Enjoy the journey…

CAMPING – Rustic camping is available at the Chuska camp at 8500 feet elevation in the ponderosa and aspen forest. There will be portajohns, hand-wash stations, lots of camping space, tons of food, a live music stage and a large camp tent at the site.

LIVE MUSIC STAGE – Chuska weekend will be filled with awesome sounds of some of the best native music around, including Gary Elthie & Jimmy Keith, Nolan James, the Martin Sisters, Red Hawk, Sage Bond and more. PACKET PICK-UP – Packet pick-up will be available on Friday at camp and Saturday morning between 8:00-9:30 a.m. on race morning. Saturday’s race and ride begin at the Chuska camp at 10:00 a.m. Sunday’s AZ Endurance Series Race begins at 8:00 a.m.

AWARDS – There will be overall pottery awards and age-group awards for the circuit race and kids race.There are no awards for Sundayʼs race.

The Chuska Challenge is sponsored by the -based nonprofit organization Y.E.S. for Dineʼ Bikeyah (NavajoYES), with major support from the Navajo Rangers, Red Valley CERT, Beclabito CERT Honey Stinger, Kokopelli Bikes and Navajo United Way.

CONTACTS: Tom: 928.429.0345 [email protected] www.navajoyes.org

DIRECTONS – Our campsite is nestled in the towering pine trees in a scenic spot at about 8500 feet elevation. Situated between the communities of Red Valley and Lukachuai, the site is just east of Buffalo Pass overlook in the northern Chuskas. Below are the directions from a variety of locations. From east (if travelling from Shiprock, Durango, Farmington, Cortez, Tʼiis Nasbas, etc.) Head south on U.S. Highway 491 out of Shiprock. Five-plus miles south of Shiprock will be the junction with Navajo Route 13, with signs indicating Red Valley, Cove and Lukachukai. Turn right and head west on N13. You will see the Red Rock Trading Post and school in 22 miles, then will pass by Red Valley Cove H.S. and NHA housing on your way to the mountain. About twelve miles from Red Valley you will arrive at camp, which will be visible on your right (north). From south (Window Rock, Ganado, Gallup, etc.) Travel 60 miles north on Navajo Route 12 from WR to the junction with Navajo route 13 at Lukachukai (aka “L.A.”), From LA, head east into the mountains. From the junction, you will travel about 12 miles to Buffalo Pass, on your left as you approach the summit. Continue one mile east of the Pass to our camp, which will be visible from the highway. From north (Kayenta, Shonto, Black Mesa, Tuba City, Monument Valley, Page) Travel east eight miles from Kayenta on U.S. Highway 160 to the junction with Navajo Route 59 at the top of Church Rock hill. At the junction, turn right and head south 44 miles – past Chilchinbeto and Rough Rock en route to Many Farms. At Many Farms, travel 16 miles east to Round Rock on U.S. Highway 191. At the Round Rock, turn right and head south on Route 12. Continue 15 miles to Lukachukai. From Lukachukai, head east on N13 toward Buffalo Pass. Camp is just one mile east of the pass on your left (north).

www.navajoyes.org